Non-binding switch.



E. L. BURTON.

NON-BINDING SWITCH.

APPLICATION HLED OCT- 19. 1918.

Patented Apr. 22,1919.

ELISHA. L. BURTON, OF THEALKA, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 CHRISTIAN C. HENKEL, 0F PAINTSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

NON-BINDING SWITCH.

Application filed October 19, 1918. Serial No. 258,864.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA L. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Thealka, in the county of Johnson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non-Binding Switches, of which the followin r is a specification, reference being had to t e accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to switch points, and has for its primary object to provide an improved switch point especially designed for use upon mine railways, whereby the free movement of the switch point is assured and binding at the joint connec tion between the point and the rail obviated.

It is also another object of my invention to provide a railway switch point, and improved means for pivotally connecting the switch point to the rail which, while of sim ple construction, will effectively retain the switch point in its operative position.

It is also a further general object of my invention to provide a non-binding switch point for railways, the several parts of which are of very durable construction and may be manufactured at relatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction, combination and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawin in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure-1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of my improved switch;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the switch point; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a slightly modified construction.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the rail, 6 the switch point, and 7 the rail section, which is adapted to be interposed between the switch point and the rail 5. The parts 5, 6 and 7 are arranged upon supportin ties, indicated at T, in the usual manner, t e rail 5 and the section 7 Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

being securely spiked to said ties, while the switch point 6 is movable upon metal wear plates 8 secured upon the ties supporting said switch point.

The rail 5 is of the usual standard form and construction, while the switch point 6 and the rail section 7 are formed of heavy rolled steel bars. The rail section 7 is con-- nected to the rail 5 by means of suitable fish plates 9 arranged upon opposite sides of the webs and securely bolted or riveted thereto. The web of the rail section 7 at its opposite end is transversely off-set and disposed at one side of the longitudinal center line of the web, as shown at 10, to thereby provide a pocket or recess in theend of the rail section.

11 designates an elongated, U-shaped pivot or hinge plate, the arms of which extend longitudinally along the opposite side faces of the web of the switch point 6 and are permanently riveted or bolted thereto, as at 12. The connected ends of these arms project some distance beyond the end of the switch point and extend into the pocket or recess 10 of the rail section 7. A vertically disposed pin or rivet 13 has its ends perma nently fixed in the tread and base portions of the rail section 7 and extends between the connected ends of the arms of the pivot plate 11. By arranging the switch point in the manner above explained, it will be seen that the strap or plate 11 may freely turn or pivot about the vertically disposed rivet 13 when the switch point is moved to its open or closed positions and the possibility of binding of the pivoted end of the switch point in such movement is obviated. Thus, freedom of operation is assured, and liability of accident due to binding of the switch point and failure of requisite movement thereof necessary to properly direct the movement of the cars will be averted.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have indicated a slightly different arrangement wherein the web of the switch point 6 is transversely oif-set, as at 14, and the pivot pin or rivet 13 is fixed in the switch point instead of in a separate rail section, while the arms of the pivot strap or plate 11 which extend around the pivot are secured directly to the end of the web of the rail 5. Thus, in this arrangement the use of a separate rail section is dispensed with. In either construction of my-invention, the device is equally effective and reliable in practical use.

From the foregoingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the invention will be clearly and fully understood. The device is primarily designated for use in connectionwith mine railways, and owing to, the very simple construction of its several parts, it may be manufactured and installed in such railways at nominal cost. It will, of course, be understood that the invention may be adapted and applied to either right or left hand switch points and that the form of the switch point, its length, and: also, the construction and arrangement of the several other parts of the device are susceptible of considerable modification. Accordingly, I reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 7

I claim 7 1., Incombination with a rail; and a movable switch point, a vertically disposed pivot secured in one of the parts in line with the webthereof, and anelongated U-shaped pivot plate having its arm fixed to the Web of the other part and extending beyond the end thereof, said pivot pin being disposed between the connected ends of said arms.

2. In combination with a rail and a switch point, one-of the parts having its web transversely off-set to provide a pocket therein, a pivot fixed in said parts and extending vertically through the pocket in line with the plate having its arms fixed toopposite sides v of the web of the switch point extendingbeyond said web, and said pivot being disposed between the connected ends of said arms. In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix signature in the presence oi two Witnesses. ELISHA L. BURTON, Witnesses:- c

STERLING. CL Bron, GUY PRESTON.

Copiesv of this, patentmay. be. vbteined*v for five centseach by addressing the; Qommissioner of IEateats,

Washington, D. 0 

